Rabat – A senior Democratic lawmaker has asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to appear before the US House Judiciary Committee as scrutiny grows over football’s governing body’s relationship with President Donald Trump.
Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the highest-ranking Democrat on the committee, sent Infantino a letter requesting documents concerning FIFA’s contacts with Trump, his administration, members of his family and the Trump Organization.
Raskin gave FIFA until August 9 to provide the requested records and arrange a transcribed interview with Infantino.
The request is not currently a subpoena, meaning the congressman cannot independently compel the FIFA president to appear while Democrats remain the minority party in the House.
The letter asks FIFA to disclose anything of value provided to Trump or people associated with him, including money, gifts, awards and public appearances.
It also seeks visitor logs for FIFA’s offices in Miami and New York, including its space in Trump Tower, as well as communications conducted through platforms such as WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram.
Balogun case adds to political scrutiny
The request follows controversy over Trump’s intervention in the disciplinary case involving United States striker Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup.
Balogun was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 and was initially due to miss the subsequent match against Belgium. FIFA later suspended the automatic one-match ban, allowing the forward to play.
Trump confirmed that he had called Infantino and asked for the case to be reviewed. FIFA maintained that the decision was made independently by its disciplinary body, but UEFA described the ruling as “incomprehensible” and said it had crossed a red line.
Raskin is also seeking information about Infantino’s decision to present Trump with the newly created FIFA Peace Prize and FIFA’s use of office space in Trump Tower.
The letter questions whether FIFA’s actions were intended to strengthen its position with the US administration and whether that relationship influenced decisions favorable to the organization.
Ticketing practices also under examination
Raskin’s inquiry also covers FIFA’s World Cup ticketing policies, including variable pricing, complaints about seat locations and the sharp increase in the cost of tickets for major matches.
The attorneys general of New York and New Jersey previously issued subpoenas to FIFA as part of an investigation into allegations that supporters were misled about seating arrangements and faced rapidly rising prices.
Raskin additionally requested communications between FIFA and US government agencies concerning ticket sales and consumer complaints.
The White House defended Trump’s role in delivering the tournament, describing the World Cup as an economic and organizational success. FIFA had not issued a detailed public response to Raskin’s requests at the time of reporting.
Although the letter does not yet carry compulsory legal force, it signals that FIFA and Infantino could face greater congressional scrutiny if Democrats regain control of the House and obtain subpoena authority after the November midterm elections.
